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Garza Struggles As White Sox Top Texas 5-2

Matt Garza of the Texas Rangers pitches against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning on August 25, 2013 at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago, Illinois. (credit: David Banks/Getty Images)

CHICAGO (AP) – Matt Garza felt he was just a little off. It was enough to make for another shaky outing.

Garza gave up two home runs, and the Texas Rangers lost 5-2 to the surging Chicago White Sox on Sunday.

“I had my slider again and it was down. I just paid for the two balls I left up,” he said.

Jordan Danks became the first major leaguer in nearly six decades to back his brother with a homer, connecting after he replaced the injured Avisail Garcia, and the White Sox won for the eighth time in nine games.

John Danks (4-10) outpitched Garza (3-2), allowing two runs over six innings for his second straight win, and the White Sox took two of three from the AL West leaders. Josh Phegley went deep after hitting the winning single in the ninth inning the previous night.

Garza allowed five runs — four earned — and seven hits over seven innings. He has allowed at least four runs in five straight starts, but manager Ron Washington figures better days are ahead.

“He’s a tremendous pitcher,” Washington said. “He’ll get comfortable and start winning us some ballgames.”

Actually, the Rangers have been winning with him. They’re 5-2 in his seven starts. But after two impressive outings against the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels following a trade from the Chicago Cubs, Garza hasn’t exactly delivered as expected.

On Sunday?

“I just felt a little out of sync, like I was trying to do too much,” he said. “You get ahead of yourself and sometimes you’ve just got to take a step back to put the whole thing in.”

The White Sox continued their roll. Otherwise it’s been a miserable season, and seeing the promising Garcia slowly walking off the field prompted a few groans throughout the stadium.

Garcia crashed into the right-field fence while chasing a tying two-run homer by Jeff Baker that barely cleared the wall in the fourth.

Acquired from Detroit in last month’s three-team deal that sent Jake Peavy to Boston, Garcia banged his head and shoulder. He stayed down for a few moments and was tended to by a trainer and manager Robin Ventura before walking gingerly off the field.

“It was more probably dehydration,” Ventura said.

Jordan Danks replaced Garcia and gave the White Sox the lead with a solo drive to right in the bottom half. According to information supplied to the White Sox by the Elias Sports Bureau, it was the first time a player has supported his brother with a homer since the Kansas City Athletics’ Billy Shantz did it for Bobby Shantz on June 3, 1955.

“We usually joke about it. He’ll come up to me and ask if I’ve done anymore ‘brother’ interviews,” John Danks. “It’s something that we don’t take for granted. We know how special it is that we get to play together.”

Third baseman Jeff Keppinger preserved the lead in the fifth when he lunged to snag Adrian Beltre’s liner and stepped on the bag with runners on the corners to end the threat.

Adam Dunn made it 4-2 in the sixth with an RBI single after Alexei Ramirez doubled, and Phegley bumped the lead to three with his drive in the seventh after Matt Lindstrom escaped a bases-loaded jam.

Lindstrom got Beltre to hit into a double play after Ramirez booted Ian Kinsler’s grounder to shortstop for his career-high 21st error.

“We had many chances, especially myself. I think this one’s on me,” Beltre said.

Nate Jones pitched a pitched a scoreless eighth and Addison Reed finished for his 35th save in 40 chances.

After pitching eight scoreless innings against Kansas City last week, John Danks gave up eight hits and struck out five while walking one against a potent Texas lineup.